Sex gangs have been using ‘pop-up brothels’ to evade capture by police.

MPs last month launched an inquiry into the apparent rise of temporary brothels. The phenomenon sees prostitutes working from Airbnb, hotels, or short-term rental properties as a instead of a permanent address in a bid to avoid detection.

But how can you spot if a house or flat on your street has been turned into a so called “pop-up brothel”.

Crimestoppers has launched a campaign urging people to be on the look-out for the tell tale signs and report any suspicions they may have.

Sex gangs have been using 'pop-up brothels' to evade capture by police (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Here is what they say you should be on the look out for:

Thee brothels are usually newly-acquired properties, often privately rented flats or houses in towns and cities

Budget hotels or holiday properties are also sometimes used.

*There could be limited activities usually associated with new people moving into a property, for example, no signs of removal vans, limited, or scarcely furnished homes. It might look like no one actually lives there.

*Multiple women living at the address, or numbers of women being brought to and taken from the address by someone else.

*Multiple vehicles visiting the property at any one time.

*Many frequent visitors, usually male, who do not stay for long periods of time.

Sex gangs have been using 'pop-up brothels' to evade capture by police (Image: South Wales Echo)

Gemma Wilson of Crimestoppers , explained: “These brothels are dens for criminals to recruit and house vulnerable women who are then put through ordeals no woman should have to go through.

“People who run these brothels run them within our communities, think they can get away with it, and have no limits as to what they will do to their victims.

“On the victim’s behalf and that of Crimestoppers, I’m appealing to people who might have information on those running these brothels, so we can shut them down and give the victims some hope of getting their lives back.”

However, some sex workers gave argued that shutting down brothels does not help prostitutes and can rob them of a safe and secure workbase.

Laura Watson from the English Collective of Prostitutes, which campaigns for sex workers’ rights and safety, said closing brothels made women less safe.

“Closure orders are being widely used and every closure makes it harder for sex workers to insist on decent working conditions,” she said.

“Some have been forced to move multiple times in a few months. They can’t invest in security measures like CCTV, or employ anyone to help keep them safe, and they have less chance to refuse clients – a key marker of exploitation.”